Abstract:
|
Measuring sexual orientation is complex because the term, as well as the underlying social / psychological construct, incorporates various dimensions of attraction, behavior, and identity. Discordant sexual identity (DSI) is a mismatch of how one defines oneself and how one behaves (e.g., identifying as heterosexual but having sex partners of the same sex) and has been identified as a risk factor for STD and HIV infection. Non-heterosexual behavior and identity are both rare characteristics, so surveys of the general population need large samples to estimate them with precision. The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) is one of few surveys that ask respondents about both sexual identity and behavior. In this presentation we aggregate NSFG data from the 2006-2010 and 2011-2013 cycles to characterize U.S. men and women 15-44 years of age in terms of their self-reported sexual identify and behavior. We examine the correlation of these measures and investigate how DSI varies by gender and socio-demographic factors. We analyze NSFG data on respondents' reports of partners and sex acts and STD/HIV risk behaviors (e.g., having multiple partners) to compare those with and without DSI.
|
ASA Meetings Department
732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-1221 • meetings@amstat.org
Copyright © American Statistical Association.